One of the challenges when it comes to switching gaming setups from the Windows world to Linux, is fully-featured hardware support.
The Xbox Wireless Headset + official dongle does a decent job with a lot of bang for the buck. However, It’s not (yet) supported by XONE or any other driver. I can connect it via bluetooth, but then it just sounds dull - no surprise!
That’s why I’m now looking for a new headset which is approved by the community. It must offer decent (surround-)sound in games.
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A few of things I’d look out for:
- Bluetooth protocol. Many Bluetooth headsets switch to a low-bandwidth but full-duplex mode when used as a headset. As a result you can hear and be heard at the same time, but at abysmal quality. Think old phone. You want a headset that supports at least AptX, which supports full-duplex communication at reasonable bandwidth and thus quality.
- Spatial audio. Don’t bother! It’s a non-issue that you can replicate in software, with the help of pipewire. I wouldn’t spend money on it.
- I’d stay away from proprietary 2.4GHz connectors and stick with plain Bluetooth, as that doesn’t require a specialised driver that possibly requires support from the vendor.
I don’t get it. Aren’t there supposed to be standards for this? I would expect any random headset to plug into the headset and microphone ports and Just Work, and ditto for USB or Bluetooth headsets that report themselves as the appropriate device class.
I would expect any random headset to plug into the headset and microphone ports and Just Work, and ditto for USB
For the most part these days, they do. But OP asked about wireless.
or Bluetooth headsets that report themselves as the appropriate device class.
The problem with Bluetooth is not the operating system or drivers, but Bluetooth itself. The spec famously lacks provisions for good quality stereo output with good quality input at the same time. This is why many wireless headsets use a (non-Bluetooth) dongle.
